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Bomb threats hit European flights; searches find no explosives

Authorities in Poland, Italy, Spain and Bulgaria said Tuesday they searched multiple passenger flights after suspected bomb threats and found no explosives, BBC, CNA and RTE reported.

What's new
  1. IOL, Meduza and 12 more are now reporting this
  2. New headline Was: “Bomb threats hit multiple flights across Europe; no explosives found”
  3. Our desk updated its story
  4. Al Jazeera is now reporting this
  5. New York Times is now reporting this
5 earlier updates
  1. Our desk filed its story
  2. New headline Was: “Bomb threats hit multiple flights across Europe; no explosives found”
  3. The Guardian, ABC News Australia and 9 more are now reporting this
  4. New headline Was: “Bomb threats reported on two passenger planes to Warsaw, both land”
  5. Our desk filed its story

Wire reporting: (Reuters, via Meduza), (AP, via KSL)

Several passenger flights across Europe were inspected on Tuesday after a string of suspected bomb threats, with authorities saying no explosives were found and airports later resuming operations1,3,17.

Counts differed as the day unfolded. BBC later put the number of inspected planes at seven, including two that had departed the United Kingdom, while CNA, citing AFP, said about 10 European flights were targeted1,17. The Japan Times separately reported that an Israel-bound cruise ship was searched in Greece11.

In Poland, a LOT service from London Heathrow that had been bound for Warsaw Chopin was diverted to Warsaw Modlin after a threat alert, and the airport closed briefly while 181 people were evacuated; a spokesman said nothing was found and operations restarted14,23,25. An SAS flight from Copenhagen landed at Chopin and was searched after a threat against SK751, with a runway closed during the check3,17,21.

In Italy, sources at Rome Fiumicino told BBC that two Ryanair flights, from Dublin and Lisbon, were searched after anonymous tips, and that the Dublin service was escorted by the Italian Air Force until landing1,24. Global News, citing a Fiumicino official, said the Rome warnings arrived by email21.

Spanish officials said a Ryanair flight from Manchester landed at Murcia and that the Guardia Civil ruled out explosives after 114 passengers and seven crew left the aircraft1,24,25. Bulgarian authorities said flights from Bergamo and Dublin were inspected at Sofia without being diverted21,24.

The incidents followed a Monday Wizz Air Luton-to-Sofia flight that Hungarian officials said was diverted to Budapest under a NATO air-defence alert, with Gripen jets escorting the landing3,17. London's Metropolitan Police said it was aware of threats against four Heathrow-linked aircraft and a Manchester flight and that checks identified no security issues17.

The UK government described Tuesday's events as malicious hoax threats and said aviation security processes were in place1. UK Counter-Terrorism Policing said it had no active investigation while remaining in contact with partners24. BBC reported that authorities from various countries would cooperate to assess whether the threats were coordinated1. Japan Times said there was no claim of responsibility11.

Sources

  1. BBCSeven flights across Europe targeted by suspected bomb threats
  2. IOLBomb threats disrupt Europe flights
  3. The Local GermanyUPDATE: Hoax bomb threats disrupt flights around Europe
  4. (Reuters, via Meduza)Five flights in Europe receive bomb threats on the same day, Reuters reportsAlso (Reuters, via ABC News Australia)
  5. (AP, via KSL)Flights across Europe face disruption after false bomb threatsAlso (AP, via Stuff), (AP, via The Philadelphia Inquirer), (AP, via WSVN 7), (AP, via The Boston Globe)
  1. The Local SpainUPDATE: Hoax bomb threats disrupt flights around Europe
  2. The Local FranceUPDATE: Hoax bomb threats disrupt flights around Europe
  3. The Local ItalyUPDATE: Hoax bomb threats disrupt flights around Europe
  4. The Local SwedenUPDATE: Hoax bomb threats disrupt flights around Europe
  5. Al JazeeraSeven flights across Europe targeted by suspected bomb threats
  6. New York TimesBomb Threats Disrupt Several Flights Across Europe
  7. The Japan TimesBomb threats on flights, cruise ship cause disruption in Europe; no devices found
  8. SCMPFake bomb threats on flights and cruise ship cause travel disruption in Europe
  9. Irish ExaminerDublin Ryanair flights targeted as bomb threats hit airports across Europe
  10. ReutersEurope-wide bomb threats disrupt air travel
  11. The GuardianFour planes flying across Europe targeted by bomb threats
  12. CNABomb threats disrupt Europe flights
  13. Arab NewsHoax bomb threats disrupt 4 flights
  14. Global NewsFalse bomb threats disrupt Europe flights
  15. RTE NewsTwo Ryanair flights from Dublin searched after bomb hoax
  16. DWMultiple flights to European airports targeted by bomb threats
  17. Sky News UKBomb threats reported on multiple flights
  18. Manchester Evening NewsManchester Airport flight live Ryanair

How it’s being reported

22 sources

First reported by ABC News AustraliaABC News Australia

BBCIOLThe Local GermanyThe Japan TimesIrish ExaminerGlobal News

Where they agree

  • No explosives were found on inspected aircraft
  • Ryanair, LOT, SAS and Wizz Air services were among those named
  • Warsaw Modlin closed briefly after a LOT diversion from Heathrow

Where they differ

How many flights were targeted

Side by side

Each outlet's article broken down by our newsroom, in our own words. To read what they wrote, use the button under each one.

BBC

Seven flights across Europe targeted by suspected bomb threats

UK-linked flights and Italian Air Force escort of a Dublin-Rome Ryanair service

Reports seven passenger planes inspected after suspected bomb threats, with UK government calling them malicious hoaxes. BBC News

UK-linked flights and Italian Air Force escort of a Dublin-Rome Ryanair service

What it reports

  • Seven planes inspected; two originated in the UK
  • Ryanair Dublin and Lisbon flights searched in Rome; no explosives found
  • UK government called the incidents malicious hoax threats
  • Authorities said they would assess whether threats were coordinated
The Local GermanyThe Local Germany

UPDATE: Hoax bomb threats disrupt flights around Europe

Warsaw-bound flights and a prior Monday Wizz Air diversion to Budapest

AFP-based report that planes landed safely and no explosives were found.

Warsaw-bound flights and a prior Monday Wizz Air diversion to Budapest

What it reports

  • SAS Copenhagen-Warsaw and LOT Heathrow-Warsaw flights were threatened
  • Ryanair Manchester-Murcia flight searched; Civil Guard found no explosives
  • Wizz Air Bergamo-Sofia inspected after landing
  • Monday Wizz Air Luton-Sofia diverted to Budapest with Hungarian Gripens
The Japan TimesThe Japan Times

Bomb threats on flights, cruise ship cause disruption in Europe; no devices found

Cruise-ship search in Greece and lack of claim of responsibility

Adds an Israel-bound cruise ship searched in Greece alongside at least seven flights.

Cruise-ship search in Greece and lack of claim of responsibility

What it reports

  • At least seven flights plus a cruise ship in Greece received threats
  • No devices found; no claim of responsibility
  • Airlines did not comment to Japan Times
Irish ExaminerIrish Examiner

Dublin Ryanair flights targeted as bomb threats hit airports across Europe

Irish passengers and Dublin departures

Focuses on Dublin-origin Ryanair services searched after landing.

Irish passengers and Dublin departures

What it reports

  • Ryanair Dublin-Rome flight searched after landing
  • LOT Heathrow flight with 181 people diverted to Modlin
  • Modlin threat cancelled at 12:21 p.m. and airport reopened
Global NewsGlobal News

False bomb threats disrupt Europe flights

Italy emails and Bulgaria inspections without diversion

Canadian Press account with country-by-country sequence and email threats in Rome.

Italy emails and Bulgaria inspections without diversion

What it reports

  • Rome threats arrived by email according to a Fiumicino official
  • Sofia flights from Bergamo and Dublin were not diverted
  • Bulgarian minister said one threat was relayed via the airline to the pilot
  • No injuries reported